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As the Bountymen’s innings entered the final overs, James (73) and Thankachan (20) continued the onslaught to the end as the visitors finished on 255-6 from their 50 overs.

James in total faced 80 balls and found the boundary rope twice and cleared it three times, Thankachan not to be out done hit the biggest six of the day.

James and fellow opening bowler Connor made sure the Hursley reply got off to a slow start as the home side only reached 22 in their first 10 overs.

As expected wickets were hard to come by for the visitors, but they kept the runs down, leaving the home side with over 100 to get off their final 10 overs.

Matt Mettam (63) and Gary Storey (53) tried to get their side back into the game and two sixes in the final over of the day bowled by Niblett from Martin Ford and Nick Wheeler helped Hursley to 236-5 in the end.

Back at May’s Bounty, Basingstoke’s second XI were unable to record their fourth win on the trot, as they lost to visiting Waterlooville by three wickets.

Youngster Bradley Neal top scored with an unbeaten 50 off 38 balls which included three fours and three sixes.

Opener Richard Vinn (44) was the next highest scorer, as Basingstoke were bowled out for 196 in the 48th over.

Waterlooville’s victory was built around a second wicket partnership worth 90 between James Scutt (46) and Jon Hudson (31) and then an unbeaten 45 from Sam Hillman saw them home.

Wicket-keeper Neal made three catches in the Waterlooville innings and Basingstoke leading wicket taker was Rakitha Perera (4-22).